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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery, the season finale of His Dark Materials, and the latest episodes of DC Super Hero Girls, and The Stand.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 1"
That was dark. Not too enjoyable, to be honest. But the cliffhanger was all right. ***.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 2"
That Quintessan is super crazy.
Speaking of which, I laughed at Megatron telling Ultra-Magnus' head not to look at him like that.
Better than the premiere. ***1/2.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 3"
That was actually pretty solid.
I liked Elita shaking hands with the Decepticon and pledging to free the Arena. That was cool.
I liked it. ****.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 4"
A bit of an underwhelming ending.
When did Elita die? Did I miss that?
I loved Optimus' one-on-one scene with Megatron. Optimus suggesting that Megatron needed him alive as a villain to fight and rally around was not only insightful, but the idea seemed to be unique to this version of the characters. I liked seeing a dynamic between Optimus and Megatron I hadn't seen before.
Megatron really does NOT like being called a Quintesson.
Good but the end petered out. ***1/2.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 5"
Considering the season subtitle, you'd figure we'd have gotten to Earth before now.
Galvatron! I liked his intro mirroring the awful 86 cartoon movie. We got a quick peek at Unicron too.
Everything Sky Lynx says is either confusing or annoying.
No lie. The animation was pretty trippy this episode.
This was all right. ***.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 6"
That was underwhelming. The part where the base exploded was pretty cool, but I think this season was a big bucket of nothin'.
Desius remains super crazy.
So Elita's alive after all.
Dinobot at the end? I can't even tell anymore.
Bumblebees are Earth insects. So why is Bumblebee the Autobot named after one if they've never been to Earth before? I hate realizing stuff that bugs me.
This Optimus sucks at screaming. Granted, Optimus is never supposed to be a screamer to begin with, but his actor here is thoroughly unconvincing at it.
I really liked the first season, but this one bored me. ***.
Star Trek: Discovery "There Is A Tide"
I love that Vance's condition for the Chain joining the Federation is for Ossyra to surrender herself for her crimes. I had been going back and forth in my opinion as to whether Vance was good or bad, but that right there proves he's good. That amazed and impressed me.
You know what? I don't blame Stamets for being as furious at Michael as he was. She's always making unilateral decisions for everybody that are not in her power to actually make. Even if Hugh, Adira, and Saru survive, if I were Paul, I'd never forgive her.
It's interesting Stamets sees Adira as a daughter. Him talking to the human scientist was interesting, but I have to say he's much stupider than a scientist could be if he could ever believed Ossyra was righteous. Her shooting the Andorian was absolutely sick.
I have to say this episode is kind of turning point for me. I've tolerated all of the problems Burham has caused the crew before because her heart was always in the right place, and it always turned out for the best. But I've gotten to the despair Paul is feeling here, and I'm doubting I'll ever forgive her.
Those cute Droids in the main title were the Sphere Data? Weird they only showed up in the second to last episode of the season.
Interesting, but not great. I'll hold out judgment until I see the finale. ***1/2.
His Dark Materials "AEsahaettr"
Lee's death was exactly as devastating as I expected it to be. Very well done.
John Parry's death is MUCH better here than in the book. It happened so quickly there it felt pointless. Him and Will having enough time to reunite made it mean something.
First and only time James MacAvoy has been seen this season as Asriel. He wasn't in the second book, but I still wouldn't have felt right if he didn't appear.
The angels meeting Will at the end of The Subtle Knife didn't happen here, but I assume they are saving that for the beginning of Season 3.
Strong finale. ****1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Fresh Princess Of Ren Faire, Part 1"
So-so but nothing great. ***.
DC Super Hero Girls "Fresh Princess Of Ren Faire, Part 2"
Again, all right, but nothing to write home about. ***.
The Stand "Blank Pages"
I have to say, I really wound up disliking Mother Abigail in the book, and it's very strange how much I like this show's version. Maybe it's because there isn't a Narrator voicing her judgmental thoughts to the viewer, but she seems much easier to take here and like less of a self-righteous prig.
They truncated Nick's story a great deal. I hope they don't do the same for the Trashcan Man.
I really dislike this version of Tom Cullen. Stephen King famously said there will never be a better Stu Redmond than Gary Sinise. Well, I personally think there will never be a better Tom Cullen than Bill Faggerbake. This Tom is too loud, in-your-face and obnoxious. There needs to be a gentleness and even beauty attached to Tom. This show is doing it wrong.
I like Glen Bateman however. I think he's a little younger than I pictured, but he's raising the right questions, even if they are slightly different ones than from the book.
A solid episode. But I think they made a huge mistake with Tom Cullen that could potentially ruin things down the line. We'll see. ***1/2.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 1"
That was dark. Not too enjoyable, to be honest. But the cliffhanger was all right. ***.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 2"
That Quintessan is super crazy.
Speaking of which, I laughed at Megatron telling Ultra-Magnus' head not to look at him like that.
Better than the premiere. ***1/2.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 3"
That was actually pretty solid.
I liked Elita shaking hands with the Decepticon and pledging to free the Arena. That was cool.
I liked it. ****.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 4"
A bit of an underwhelming ending.
When did Elita die? Did I miss that?
I loved Optimus' one-on-one scene with Megatron. Optimus suggesting that Megatron needed him alive as a villain to fight and rally around was not only insightful, but the idea seemed to be unique to this version of the characters. I liked seeing a dynamic between Optimus and Megatron I hadn't seen before.
Megatron really does NOT like being called a Quintesson.
Good but the end petered out. ***1/2.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 5"
Considering the season subtitle, you'd figure we'd have gotten to Earth before now.
Galvatron! I liked his intro mirroring the awful 86 cartoon movie. We got a quick peek at Unicron too.
Everything Sky Lynx says is either confusing or annoying.
No lie. The animation was pretty trippy this episode.
This was all right. ***.
Transformers: Earthrise: War For Cybertron Trilogy "Chapter 6"
That was underwhelming. The part where the base exploded was pretty cool, but I think this season was a big bucket of nothin'.
Desius remains super crazy.
So Elita's alive after all.
Dinobot at the end? I can't even tell anymore.
Bumblebees are Earth insects. So why is Bumblebee the Autobot named after one if they've never been to Earth before? I hate realizing stuff that bugs me.
This Optimus sucks at screaming. Granted, Optimus is never supposed to be a screamer to begin with, but his actor here is thoroughly unconvincing at it.
I really liked the first season, but this one bored me. ***.
Star Trek: Discovery "There Is A Tide"
I love that Vance's condition for the Chain joining the Federation is for Ossyra to surrender herself for her crimes. I had been going back and forth in my opinion as to whether Vance was good or bad, but that right there proves he's good. That amazed and impressed me.
You know what? I don't blame Stamets for being as furious at Michael as he was. She's always making unilateral decisions for everybody that are not in her power to actually make. Even if Hugh, Adira, and Saru survive, if I were Paul, I'd never forgive her.
It's interesting Stamets sees Adira as a daughter. Him talking to the human scientist was interesting, but I have to say he's much stupider than a scientist could be if he could ever believed Ossyra was righteous. Her shooting the Andorian was absolutely sick.
I have to say this episode is kind of turning point for me. I've tolerated all of the problems Burham has caused the crew before because her heart was always in the right place, and it always turned out for the best. But I've gotten to the despair Paul is feeling here, and I'm doubting I'll ever forgive her.
Those cute Droids in the main title were the Sphere Data? Weird they only showed up in the second to last episode of the season.
Interesting, but not great. I'll hold out judgment until I see the finale. ***1/2.
His Dark Materials "AEsahaettr"
Lee's death was exactly as devastating as I expected it to be. Very well done.
John Parry's death is MUCH better here than in the book. It happened so quickly there it felt pointless. Him and Will having enough time to reunite made it mean something.
First and only time James MacAvoy has been seen this season as Asriel. He wasn't in the second book, but I still wouldn't have felt right if he didn't appear.
The angels meeting Will at the end of The Subtle Knife didn't happen here, but I assume they are saving that for the beginning of Season 3.
Strong finale. ****1/2.
DC Super Hero Girls "Fresh Princess Of Ren Faire, Part 1"
So-so but nothing great. ***.
DC Super Hero Girls "Fresh Princess Of Ren Faire, Part 2"
Again, all right, but nothing to write home about. ***.
The Stand "Blank Pages"
I have to say, I really wound up disliking Mother Abigail in the book, and it's very strange how much I like this show's version. Maybe it's because there isn't a Narrator voicing her judgmental thoughts to the viewer, but she seems much easier to take here and like less of a self-righteous prig.
They truncated Nick's story a great deal. I hope they don't do the same for the Trashcan Man.
I really dislike this version of Tom Cullen. Stephen King famously said there will never be a better Stu Redmond than Gary Sinise. Well, I personally think there will never be a better Tom Cullen than Bill Faggerbake. This Tom is too loud, in-your-face and obnoxious. There needs to be a gentleness and even beauty attached to Tom. This show is doing it wrong.
I like Glen Bateman however. I think he's a little younger than I pictured, but he's raising the right questions, even if they are slightly different ones than from the book.
A solid episode. But I think they made a huge mistake with Tom Cullen that could potentially ruin things down the line. We'll see. ***1/2.
